Methods and apparatus for cell culture array

A microfluidic culture system capable of providing an environment for biologic growth and/or analysis and/or manipulation comprising:

• a plurality of culture units, at least some of said culture units comprising:
• a culture area;
• a loading inlet, allowing loading of cells or other culture objects;
• a large fluidic cross-section medium/reagent channel, said channel providing a desired flow of a culture medium and/or reagent and/or providing access to culture products;
• and
• a micro fluidic passage structure, said structure separating said culture area and said medium/reagent channel while providing fluidic connection between said culture area and said medium/reagent channel without disturbing cells or other culture objects.

A microfluidic microchamber device comprising:

• a microchamber having an inlet port and substantially surrounded by a chamber wall, said chamber wall comprising a diffusion micro structure;
• a medium flow channel substantially surrounding at least one-half of said chamber wall;
• and
• an inlet channel substantially aligned with said inlet port.

A method of handling cells comprising:

• introducing cells into one or more micro-sized micro culture units, at least one unit comprising:
• a microchamber and/or a microchannel;
• at least one large volume port;
• a flow around channel proximate to said microchamber and connected thereto principally by a plurality of one or more micro diffusion structures;
• such that medium and/or reagents in said flow around channel can enter said microchamber and waste can exit said microchamber into said flow around channel by diffusion and/or mass transfer through said micro diffusion structures;
• wherein said microchamber and said micro diffusion structures have a high fluidic resistance ratio.